The Canadian Association of Journalists must recognize Miles Howe as a journalist, because they have released this statement calling for the RCMP ro respect freedom of the press: http://www.caj.ca/?p=3643
Let us not be defensive in the face of such calumny. The big guns have been unleashed and the gloves taken off.
If, according to the logic of these corporate editorial scribblers, Mr Howe is an unpaid "blogger" and a "hot-headed fanatic," and that the Halifax Media Co-op does not adhere to the famous and celebrated "journalistic standards," then what are they so concerned about?
Do they not represent extremely wealthy monopolies with dominant positions in their respective provinces, Lee in New Brunswick (the Irving press) and Leger in Nova Scotia (Halifax Herald Ltd.), with virtually unlimited resources at their fingertips?
Mr Howe has been arrested three times, justifiably or no. Is he then not innocent until proven guilty? If no charges have been laid, why not demand that they in fact be laid against him? Would he then not have his day in court? Would it not be an extremely public and visible event? Why not uphold the rule of law?
Indeed, why are they so upset?
Or perhaps they are afraid that he may use such a trial as a powerful tribune to expose and attack the real criminals exploiting the natural resources through this fracking fraud and the role of the RCMP, which has made the First Nations and their defenders the target of law and order.
Or that more and more people -- not only in the Maritimes but around the world -- may start reading his and other's reports of the events and question the fabled "human rights," "freedom of the press" and "Canadian values" of this society so dear to their hearts.
Perhaps Messrs Seguin, Lee and Leger have an agenda in the background.
Their charade about an individual journalist and his credentials and standards is unjustifiable and criminal: it is a calculated diversion from the real issues and a complete deception.
The "freedom" of this monopoly media is dependent on the suppression of any media which reports the facts, is independent and creates public opinion in the interests of the people for necessary change.
This is why the monopoly camp rages against an individual and seeks to reduce an important issue facing the Canadian public with smears and slanders characteristic of the gutter.
Such are its elastic "standards" of debasement, with the aim to lower the level of political culture and stop public discussion and action against the plunder of our natural resources by the big monopolies.
This is also why these aristocrats advance in the American style that only those who are paid can adhere to ethics and principles, be in journalism or any other sphere of culture and public life. According to their logic, ethics, principles and standards are something to be bought and sold, and adjusted accordingly to the dollar. This is the naked logic of American pragmatism, the end justifies the means, whatever works is the truth.
Is this not the reactionary content of the diatribe launched by Messrs Seguin, Lee and Leger?
It would also be instructive to publish the complete transcript of the New Brunswick CBC Radio's Information Morning program so that the readers may judge for themselves.
I am for a media that is based on reporting the truth, a media that is partisan about the interests of the people and public right, including the defence of the hereditary rights of the First Nations, and stands against and exposes the fanatical defence of private monopoly right and the repression and criminalization by the state of all those opposing it.
This is our ethic and principle.
Write on!
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